This decision comes after the stagnation of talks in Brussels to normalize the relationship between both countries.
Serbian police have banned a festival promoting cultural exchange with Kosovo after a concentration of far-right protesters at the gates of the enclosure.
In a statement, the Belgrade Police allege security reasons to prevent the celebration of the festival, and affirms that he wantse avoid “dangers to the safety of people and public order on a larger scale.
“No to surrender”
The Police statement also said that the protest against the festival had been prohibited, in which Dozens of right-wing extremists gathered in front of the venue of the festival, waving Serbian flags and banners saying “no to surrender.”
Several officials of the Serbian government have harshly criticized the festival in recent days, calling it anti-Serbian.
Although the festival has been held alternately in Serbia and Kosovo over the past decade, this year’s ban on Serbia illustrates a general hardening of the Government’s stance towards its critics.
The Mirëdita festival, whose name means “hello” in Albanian and Serbian, is organized by youth groups from Serbia and Kosovo, and was to be inaugurated on Thursday with a theatrical show of Kosovo.
According to the festival’s website, the event, which was to last two days, aims to “enrich regional perspectives and foster cooperation and peacebuilding.”
The ban on the festival came a day after the head of EU Foreign Policy, Joseph Borrellstated that there had been no progress in the talks held in Brussels to apply a agreement between Belgrade and Pristina.
Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic, and the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurtithey had gathered to debate an EU-backed plan to normalize relations.
However, several outstanding issues, including Pristina’s demand that Belgrade hand over the alleged organizers of the Banjska attackprevented further progress.
After the meetings, Borrell stated that the European Union will continue to do everything possible to normalize relationships between Belgrade and Pristina.
“Kosovo was not ready for this, Kosovo was not willing to do this trilateral meeting. Serbia was willing to do it, but it takes two to tango and we need two to sit at the table to continue the dialogue,” Borrell added.
